The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

So if ye ask what his sons did, the holy Ghost saith, that they banqueted. If ye ask where, he saith, in their own houses. If ye ask when, he saith, every one kept his day. If ye ask who were the guests, he saith that one invited another, and the other invited him again, and they called their sisters to them. and so they made merry together. If ye ask what father Job did, the story saith, that after every feast, first he sent for his sons, and then he sanctified them, and then he sacrificed for them: the reason is added, because Job thought, It may be that may sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts, his zeal in this action is declared by three circumstances.

So if ye aske what his sonnes did, the holy Ghost saith, that they banquetted. If yee aske where, he saith, in their owne houses. If ye aske when, he saith, euery one kept his daye. If yee aske who were the guests, hee saith that one inuited another, and the other inuited him againe, and they called their sisters to them. and so they made merrie together. If yee aske what father Iob did, the story saith, that after euery feast, first he sent for his sonnes, and then he sanctified them, and then hee sacrificed for them: the reason is added, because Iob thought, It may be that may sonnes haue sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts, his zeale in this action is declared by three circumstances.

First, that he rose up early in the morning. Secondly, that he offered so many sacrifices as he had sons. Thirdly, that he performed this offering every day while their feast lasted. Of every circumstance a little, because some had rather hear many things then learn one. First here is to be noted that amongst the blessings of Job, his children are reckoned first, so soon as the holy Ghost was past his spiritual blessings which he mentioneth in the first verse of all, before all his other blessings, lands and houses, and goods, and cattle, and friends, and servants, he speaks of his children, as the chiefest treasure which Job had next unto his virtues; although he was counted the greatest man for riches and cattle, and all things else in all the east parts, 3. verse. Therefore the Devil when he had taken away all his other riches, took away his children last of all, trying him as it were by degrees, as if he should say, I have a greater plague for him yet, if the loosing of his goods and stealing of his cattle, and burning of his houses, and slaying of his servants will not move him, yet I know what will rouse him: when his children are all feasting together I will raise a mighty wind, and blow down the house upon their heads, and kill every son & daughter which he hath at a clap. Indeed this news frighted him forest, as appeareth in